sports

23 Oct 2025

Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier Busted For Gambling

Portland Trail Blazers Media Day
Source: Steph Chambers / Getty

On Thursday morning (October 23), the National Basketball Association was rocked with the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Both men were arrested in connection to a pair of federal investigations into gambling, as reported by ESPN’s lead NBA insider Shams Charania. 

Billups’ case reportedly stems from allegations that he was involved in an illegal poker operation with ties to members of three Mafia families. According to CNN, Billups allegedly took part in games which took place in Miami, Las Vegas, Manhattan and in the Hamptons. Billups, an NBA Hall of Famer and former champion with the 2004 Detroit Pistons, is in his fifth year coaching Portland who lost their season opener to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. He expected to appear in court on Thursday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.

Rozier has been the focus of a federal investigation since a game on March 23, 2023 when Rozier was with the Charlotte Hornets as they played the New Orleans Pelicans. Several sportsbooks flagged suspicious activity coming in, tied to wagers on Rozier’s points, assists and rebounds totalling $200,000. Rozier left that game with a foot injury. Since then, Rozier and his agent have spoken with the FBI multiple times. The NBA stated that it also looked into the game and didn’t find any league rules broken.

According to reports, former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones was also arrested Thursday, on charges he provided inside information about players to co-defendants who used it to make sports wagers. He was allegedly also involved in the same illegal poker operation that Billups was involved in, and purportedly asked for a payment of $2,500 before taking part. Jones was an eleven-year league veteran, and coached under Tyronn Lue from 2016 to 2018.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is expected to hold a press conference later on Thursday morning, with director Kash Patel speaking in detail about the arrests along with the office of the Eastern District of New York. Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, spoke to CNN, defending his client. “Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight,” he said.

22 Oct 2025

No, the NFL Isn’t Reconsidering Bad Bunny for Super Bowl Halftime Show: ‘It’s Carefully Thought Through’

Trending on Billboard

The NFL is standing by Bad Bunny as next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner, regardless of the controversy surrounding the decision.

While speaking to press on Tuesday (Oct. 21), the league’s commissioner, Roger Goodell dismissed questions about whether the NFL would reconsider the selection of Benito to perform at the big game in February. “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” he said, according to CBS Sports. “That’s what we try to achieve.”

“It’s an important stage for us,” Goodell continued. “It’s an important element to the entertainment value. It’s carefully thought through.”

He also pointed out: “I don’t think we’re ever selected an artist without some blowback or criticism.”

The commissioner’s comments come amid backlash from certain people — primarily MAGA conservatives — who have taken issue with the choice of a Spanish-speaking musician to perform at halftime. President Donald Trump called it “absolutely ridiculous,” while White House advisor Corey Lewandowski said, “It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them at the Halftime Show.”

The chart-topping singer-rapper — who is from Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States — has never indicated that he hates America. He has, however, expressed his hesitance to tour in the U.S. due to concerns that ICE might target his audiences, a fear that Lewandowski further stoked by adding in an October interview that immigration enforcement agents would be present at the Super Bowl.

“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally,” the advisor said at the time. “Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you.”

Turning Point USA, an ultraconservative youth organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk, also announced its intention to host an alternate halftime show out of protest.

But while there is a loud and vocal group speaking out against Bad Bunny’s appointment as 2026 halftime headliner, countless others — from Shaboozey to Jennifer Lopez — have shared how excited they are for Benito’s performance. Shakira also recently said, “It’s the perfect moment for a performance like this.”

She added in an interview with Variety, “I’m so proud that Bad Bunny, who represents not only Latin culture, but also how important Spanish language music has become on a global scale and how universal it has become, is getting to perform on the biggest stage in the world.”


Billboard VIP Pass

21 Oct 2025

Drake Celebrates Toronto Blue Jays Making First World Series in 32 Years: ‘We’re Going to the Big Show’

Trending on Billboard

Drake is always repping for Toronto, and he celebrated in style with the Blue Jays punching their first ticket to the World Series since 1993 on Monday.

The 6 God was living and dying with every pitch of game 7 as the Blue Jays won a classic behind a George Springer go-ahead three-run homer to seal the ALCS victory 4-3.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

With the Los Angeles Dodgers standing in the Blue Jays’ way of a World Series ring, Drake had some fun on Instagram with the fans. “World Series Bound,” he wrote. The photo is actually from when Drizzy rented out Dodger Stadium for an intimate dinner date with Johanna Leia in 2021.

He posted a clip to his Instagram Story as the Jays recorded the final out to clinch a spot in the World Series. “One strike away, we’re going to the big show,” he said as the fellas broke out into a frenzied celebration. “Get the boys a pizza and some cokes.” The crew included an appearance from OVO Chubbs.

The Blue Jays went back-to-back — that title might sound familiar to Drake fans — in 1992 and 1993 and will look to capture their first World Series since.

With Toronto facing off against Los Angeles, who are looking for back-to-back World Series titles of their own, fans didn’t waste any time in drawing a parallel back to Drizzy’s 2024 battle against Compton native Kendrick Lamar.

First pitch of game 1 of the World Series is slated for Friday night in Toronto, and don’t be surprised to see Drake in the stands.

Watch the clip of Drake celebrating below.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox


Sign Up

21 Oct 2025

How to Watch the 2025 NBA Season Online Without Cable

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Trending on Billboard

The 80th season of the NBA tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 21. After 23 years being being broadcasted on TNT, the National Basketball Association is finally heading back to NBC with a must-see season opening doubleheader between the Houston Rockets vs. the defending champs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Golden State Warriors vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. To learn how you can watch basketball all season long without cable, keep reading.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

When Does the 2025 NBA Season Start?

The 2025 NBA season tips off with an incredible doubleheader with the Houston Rockets vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder followed by the Golden State Warriors vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Opening night airs on Tuesday, Oct. 21 on NBC, which can be streamed online with Peacock.

How to Watch the 2025 NBA Season Without Cable

The 2025 NBA season will air across NBC and ESPN while streaming on Peacock, DirecTV, Prime Video, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. Don’t have cable? Here’s everything you need to know on how to stream NBA games online for free.

DirecTV

Join DirecTV with a five-day free trial to enjoy your favorite sports and other entertainment. The streaming service’s signature packages feature more than 90 channels: ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, ESPN2, FS1, SEC, MLB Network, TLC, CBS, USA, Bravo, E!, BET, MTV and more.

A subscription to DirecTV — which comes with NBC and ESPN for NBA games — gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, starting at $49.99 for the first month of service ($89.99 per month afterwards). The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now.

Peacock

With the NBA on NBA, fans can now catch games streaming on Peacock. While there is no free trial for new users, the platform offers cheap plans starting at just $10.99 per month, or you can get an annual plan for $109.99 per year (which gets you 12 months of streaming for the price of 10). Sign up below.

Sling TV

Sling TV offers the Blue package, which comes with NBC. Blue is one of the most affordable options and comes with more than 40 channels and can be streamed on up to three device at a time. Please note: Pricing and channel availability varies from market-to-market.

Sling TV is another streaming option for sports fans on a budget. With Sling Orange + Blue package, you can stream ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and other channels for starting at $33 for the first month ($65.99 per month afterwards).

You’ll also get more than 45 other networks, including Disney Channel, ESPN2, NBC, Fox, TBS, Bravo, Discovery Channel, Fox News, MSNBC, National Geographic, USA Network, Fox Sports and more. Please note that channel availability and price depends on your local TV market. Learn more about Sling TV here.

Hulu + Live TV

For the most content offerings, you can sign up for Hulu + Live TV and get access to the Hulu library in addition to more then 95 live TV channels (including NBC). The streaming platform starts at $64.99 per month for the first three months of service ($82.99 per month afterwards).

And, for even more programming, Hulu + Live TV now comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited, which gives you everything within the Hulu library, in addition to exclusive content on ESPN for even more sports coverage.

Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for the NBA’s Friday night doubleheaders — and it’ll be the exclusive streaming home for Thursday night NBA games starting in 2026.

To watch Friday Night NBA games, you’ll need a Prime Membership. Signing up will grant you access to Prime Video to watch the basketball games as well as a whole suite of benefits, including fast same-, next-, or two-day free shipping; discounts at Whole Foods Market, access to exclusive shopping events — like Prime Day and Black Friday — and more.

Amazon is offering a 30-day free trial for new users who want to test out the service. When the trial is up, you can either cancel the streaming service altogether, or you can keep watching for $8.99/month for the base Prime Video plan. But, if you want all the perks that come with Amazon Prime, it goes for $14.99/month (or $139/year) — a nearly 25% savings.

What’s the 2025 NBA Season Opening Week Schedule?

Don’t miss any of the on court action this week with must-see matchups including Golden State vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Oct. 21), Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks (Oct. 24) and Oklahoma City vs. Dallas Mavericks (Oct. 27). See full schedule as well as where to watch each game below.

Tuesday, Oct. 21

  • Houston vs. Oklahoma City — 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
  • Golden State vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10:00 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)

Wednesday, Oct. 22

  • Cleveland vs. New York Knicks — 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Brooklyn vs. Charlotte — 7:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Miami vs. Orlando — 7:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Toronto vs. Atlanta — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Philadelphia vs. Boston — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Detroit vs. Chicago — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • New Orleans vs. Memphis — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Washington vs. Milwaukee — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • LA Clippers vs. Utah — 9:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • San Antonio vs. Dallas — 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Sacramento vs. Phoenix — 10:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Minnesota vs. Portland — 10:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Thursday, Oct. 23

  • Oklahoma City vs. Indiana — 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Denver vs. Golden State — 10:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday, Oct. 24

  • Atlanta vs. Orlando — 7:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Cleveland vs. Brooklyn — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Boston vs. New York Knicks — 7:30 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Milwaukee vs. Toronto — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Detroit vs. Houston — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Miami vs. Memphis — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • San Antonio vs. New Orleans — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Washington vs. Dallas — 8:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Minnesota vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10:00 p.m. (Prime Video)
  • Golden State vs. Portland — 10:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Utah vs. Sacramento — 10:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Phoenix vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 10:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Saturday, Oct. 25

  • Chicago vs. Orlando — 7:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Oklahoma City vs. Atlanta — 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
  • Charlotte vs. Philadelphia — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Indiana vs. Memphis — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Phoenix vs. Denver — 9:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Sunday, Oct. 26

  • Brooklyn vs. San Antonio — 2:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Boston vs. Detroit — 3:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Milwaukee vs. Cleveland — 6:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • New York Knicks vs. Miami — 6:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Charlotte vs. Washington — 6:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Indiana vs. Minnesota — 7:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Toronto vs. Dallas — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Portland vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 9:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento — 9:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Monday, Oct. 27

  • Cleveland vs. Detroit — 7:00 p.m. (Peacock)
  • Orlando vs. Philadelphia — 7:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Atlanta vs. Chicago — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Brooklyn vs. Houston — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Boston vs. New Orleans — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Toronto vs. San Antonio — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Oklahoma City vs. Dallas — 8:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Phoenix vs. Utah — 9:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Denver vs. Minnesota — 9:30 p.m. (Peacock)
  • Memphis vs. Golden State — 10:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Portland vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 10:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)

Tuesday, Oct. 28

  • Philadelphia vs. Washington — 7:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Charlotte vs. Miami — 7:30 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee — 8:00 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
  • Sacramento vs. Oklahoma City — 8:00 p.m. (NBA League Pass)
  • Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State — 11:00 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
12 Jun 2025

Tom Thibodeau Thanks New York & Its Fans In Full-Page Ad

Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks - Game Five
Source: Al Bello / Getty

During his half a decade stint as the head coach of the New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau earned himself a Coach Of The Year award and led the team to four playoff appearances in his five-year tenure and though fans were mostly relieved to learn the news that Thibodeau had been fired by the team’s owner, James Dolan, Thibs doesn’t seem to harbor any ill will towards the franchise, the fans or the city (unlike a Julius Randle).

A week after the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau following the team’s elimination at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, Tom Thibodeau took out a full-page black-and-white ad in The New York Times to thank the Knicks and the city of New York for helping him live out his “dream job” as he was able to coach the Knicks back to relevancy following decades of pain, scandals and disappointment for fans of the franchise.

“I am grateful that dream became a reality. Thank you to our players and coaching staff who gave everything they had, and to everyone who makes the franchise special. I am proud of everything we accomplished together, including four playoff appearances and this year’s run to the Eastern Conference finals – our first in 25 years.”

Unfortunately for the team, it seemed like Thibs was outreached by Indiana Pacers head coach, Rick Carlisle who seemed to have Thibs number at every twist and turn throughout the series.

With rumors swirling that Thibs was fired by the team after players were interviewed about the situation, it didn’t help that one of the teams top players allegedly said he couldn’t continue to play for Thibodeau next season. Though no names have been leaked as to who might’ve made such a statement, people assume it was one of the Knicks starting five players as Thibs never plays his bench anyway. Another reason many fans wanted Thibs to be relieved of his head coaching duties.

Regardless of how you may have felt about Tom Thibodeau, the man did make the Knicks winners again and helped bring back excitement to the Mecca of Basketball that hadn’t been felt in decades.

Thanks, Thibs.

HipHopWired Featured Video

06 Jun 2025

Samuel L. Jackson Didn’t Understand Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show Until Dress Rehearsal

Samuel L. Jackson didn’t exactly know what he was getting into when he first agreed to be a part of Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The veteran actor and civil rights activist stopped by the Mad Sad Bad podcast and talked about his turn as Uncle Sam during the Super Bowl earlier this year, telling host Paloma Faith that it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that he started to put two and two together.

“I didn’t know what they were doing,” he admitted after being asked what it felt like to contribute to the performance. “It was kinda trippy because it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that when I looked up and I looked on that stage and I go, ‘Oh sh—t, that’s a flag. Ah, f—k, we’re being revolutionaries.’ Because I wasn’t listening or paying attention.”

Trending on Billboard

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Lamar’s performance took on a political tone as he and his pgLang team wanted to convey what Black America looks like and used Jackson as sort of a “Greek chorus” to narrate the action on the field, just as he did in Spike Lee‘s 2015 film Chi-Raq as Dolmedes, something even the Brooklyn filmmaker acknowledged.

Jackson has a rich history in America’s civil rights movement, so much so that he was one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ushers during his funeral when he was attending Morehouse and has come to realize that he often finds himself in these kind of important situations.

“Something about me or my persona has put me in the right place at the right time… in a lot of different moments in my life,” he told Faith. “And I have to accept that that’s what I’m meant to be sometimes; an agent of change, whether I know it or not. And to be proud of it and to know God has placed me in a place that I can be influential.”

He added: “I wanna be on the right side of history in terms of what’s going on, and sometimes it’s not by choice.”

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show was the most watched in the history of the event.

You can watch the full interview with Samuel L. Jackson below.

05 Jun 2025

Lil Wayne’s Unreleased ‘Tha Carter VI’ Song With U2’s Bono Soundtracks NBA Finals Promo

ESPN is giving Lil Wayne fans a sneak peek at his The Carter VI album mere hours before it arrives.

Unreleased track “The Days” featuring Bono has been used in a promo ad for game one of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday (June 5).

“I pledge allegiance to what I believe in/ Live to fight another day,” he raps. “I ain’t getting younger, but I’m getting better/ No time to waste that’s another man’s treasure/ They say every dog has hit day.” The U2 frontman then takes the baton to handle chorus duties. “These are the days,” Bono sings.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Without a single ahead of the album, “The Days” snippet is the first taste fans got of C6, and the partnership makes sense with Lil Wayne being an avid hoops fan.

Trending on Billboard

“Basketball’s been in my blood since day one, so to team up with ESPN less than 24 hours before the drop of Tha Carter VI for the NBA Finals is an incredible honor,” Wayne said in a statement. “My music and the NBA are vibin’ on the same frequency because it’s perfect timing for fans to hear Tha Carter VI on the game’s grandest stage.”

ESPN has been using numerous Wayne tracks to soundtrack NBA Playoffs ads this season, including “I Am Not a Human Being,” “Uproar” and the “Glory (Remix).”

“Lil Wayne brings the energy, edge and emotion that define the NBA Finals,” Curtis Friends, vice president of sports marketing at ESPN, said in a statement. “Integrating his music into our NBA Playoffs coverage has been a strategic brand flex — amplifying our storytelling and connecting with fans as we showcase today’s rising stars on the league’s biggest stage.”

Game one of the NBA Finals tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC inside OKC’s Paycom Center as the Pacers and Thunder gear up for a hard-fought series. After the contest, look for Weezy’s Tha Carter VI to hit streaming services at midnight ET on Friday (June 6).

Get a taste of “The Days” with the NBA Finals teaser below.

05 Jun 2025

Wayne Gretzky Gets Introduced to ‘Pink Pony Club’ & Wants Chappell Roan’s Hit as His Ringtone

Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” has become an anthem for the Edmonton Oilers, and the hit played throughout Rogers Place arena after the Oilers won game one of the Stanley Cup against the Florida Panthers in overtime on Wednesday night (June 4).

NHL icon and former Edmonton Oiler Wayne Gretzky was in the building as part of TNT’s post-game broadcast, and he seemed to take a liking to “Pink Pony Club” after being introduced to the Chappell Roan banger.

“‘Pink Pony,’ is that a band or is that a song?” he innocently asked his cohosts. Retired hockey pro Paul Bissonnette offered Gretzky a quick explainer: “It’s a woman. She sings a song, ‘Pink Pony Club.’ And it’s famous — it’s on the radio.”

Trending on Billboard

Gretzky replied: “I gotta get that on my ringtone.”

Now, it’s unclear how exactly “Pink Pony Club” was adopted by the Oilers, as the team kept the reasoning under wraps when asked about it throughout the season.

Edmonton sits just three wins away from its first Stanley Cup since 1990, so all of Oiler Nation is hoping to hear “Pink Pony Club” a few more times in June to bring the Cup back to Alberta, Canada.

“Pink Pony Club” was originally released in 2020 and landed on Chappell’s 2023 The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The multi-platinum hit reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sits at No. 12 on this week’s chart.

Watch the video below.

04 Jun 2025

‘This Is What You Asked For’: Watch Linkin Park Star in Ice-Shattering Stanley Cup Final Promo

As the 2025 Stanley Cup Final kicks off with Wednesday night’s (June 4) Game 1 showdown between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, players and fans alike have no choice but to rock out to the NHL‘s brand-new promo starring and soundtracked by Linkin Park.

The promo — which opened the TNT broadcast of Game 1 — shows the Stanley Cup trophy sinking underwater, surrounded by a school of fish, as Linkin Park’s chart-topping single “Heavy Is the Crown” begins. Just above the water, a heated hockey game is raging on — as is a private Linkin Park concert, with newly minted frontwoman Emily Armstrong scream-singing, “This is what you asked for!” as the ice shatters under her and her bandmates’ feet.

“Heavy Is the Crown” — off the band’s eighth studio album From Zero and also the anthem for Riot Games’ 2024 League of Legends World Championship — was an eight-week No. 1 hit on Billboard‘s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart and also topped the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in February, marking LP’s 12th leader on the list.

Trending on Billboard

The NHL promo continues a sports-centric week for the band, which performed a four-song set ahead of the UEFA Champions League final in Munich on Saturday night. Taking the stage at Munich Football Arena just before kick-off between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, the band’s appearance served as a high-profile preview of their upcoming world tour, which begins June 12 at Austria’s Novarock Festival.

Following Game 1 in Edmonton, the next Stanley Cup Final match is set for Friday at 8 p.m. ET before the series moves to Florida for Game 3 on Monday. In addition to TNT, the series is airing across SN, CBC, TVAS, truTV and Max.

Watch the new promo below:

01 Jun 2025

New York Knicks Fans Sick After Indiana Pacers Send Their Beloved Knickerbockers Packing For A Second Straight Year

Source: Getty Images / Indiana Pacers / New York Knicks

It’s no longer orange and blue skies after the NBA’s “most overrated player,” Tyrese Haliburton, and the Indiana Pacers once again sent New York Knicks, Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet, Spike Lee, and the rest of the diehard Knickerbocker fans on summer break.

The New York Knicks and their fans thought their 52-year championship drought was coming to an end, but unfortunately, the Indiana Pacers had other plans.

Last night, in a game that started close, the Pacers eventually cruised to a 125-108 Game 6 win over the Knicks, punching their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, where they hope they can win the franchise’s first NBA title.

Out of the gate, the Knicks didn’t let the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd affect them, keeping the contest close, trailing by only four points at halftime. But it was clear they couldn’t keep pace with the Pacers, who turned it on in the second half, ending the third quarter with an 11-point lead that the Knicks couldn’t overcome.

It didn’t help that the Knicks’ offense was stifled by the Pacers’ defense in the second half. The clutch player of the year and Knicks’ top offensive weapon, Jalen Brunson, was held to just 19 points and shot 4/10 at the half because Andrew Nembhard locked him down.

Turnovers Killed The Knicks’ Chances

The Pacers also forced 18 Knicks turnovers, scoring 25 fastbreak points, a recipe for disaster for any team trying to win an Eastern Conference Finals series.

After being stifled in Game 5, Tyrese Haliburton returned to form, scoring 21 points and dishing out 13 assists. However, it was Pascal Siakam’s 31-point performance that helped put the Knicks away for good, earning him the series MVP award, which also provided a classic meme moment.

Jalen Brunson Still Has Confidence In This Knicks Team

Despite solid offensive efforts from OG Anunoby, who led all Knicks scorers with 24 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns with 22, it just wasn’t enough.

It didn’t help that Josh Hart, who has been reliable all season, didn’t leave his mark on the game, scoring only 4 points.

Following the game, Brunson says he still believes in this Knicks team as it is constructed, telling reporters he has “The most confidence, overconfident, seriously,” Brunson said. “There’s not an ounce of any type of doubt that I’m confident with this group.”

A Magical Season Comes To A Bitter End

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks looked like they were on the verge of a special season after two big playoff series wins, including knocking off the defending champion Boston Celtics.

But it would turn out their biggest test would be the franchise’s longtime rivals, the Indiana Pacers, who have played boogeyman to the Knicks franchise for many years.

Coming into the series, the Knicks had all the momentum, especially after pulling off one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history en route to denying the Celtics the opportunity to defend their 2023-24 NBA championship.

It would turn out that the Knicks would get a taste of their own medicine after they dramatically blew a significant lead in game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, which led to an insane Tyrese Haliburton buzzer-beater to force overtime, where the Knicks came up short, and eventually would go on to lose the series.

As you can imagine, Knicks fans’ emotions are all over the place. Some are proud of their Knickerbockers, while others feel a change is needed, calling for the firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau, whose rotations and refusal to use his bench were once again the subject of discussion.

Welp, there’s always next year.

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

1. A proud Knicks fan

HipHopWired Featured Video

CLOSE